Dinner Wear Help - going on pacific princess 7 day alaska cruise in July. We are NOT doing the formal night. I am still confused on what to wear for dinner. Was thinking of sun dresses(or would that be too cool), capris and dressy tops, dressy sandals. Can my husband wear dockers, button down shirts and/or nice golf shirts.

Dinner Wear Help - going on pacific princess 7 day alaska cruise in July. We are NOT doing the formal night.

That's really too bad, as you will miss out on several of the most memorable events of the whole cruise.

Let me amplify on that. On a cruise of seven nights, the two "formal' evenings are the evenings when the cruise line really bends over backwards to pull out all the stops. These are invariably the evenings when dining room features its best menus (with entrees like Lobster Tails, Roast Pheasant, and Beef Wellington) and adds the extra touches that you won't see on the "casual" evenings and the cast stages its best production shows. Princess also holds very classy special events on these evenings that I won't describe because I don't want to spoil the surprise. if you don't dress for the "formal" evenings, you won't be able to participate in any of this since Princess's dress policy is quite clear -- "The evening dress applies throughout the ship, except designated casual areas, after 6:00 PM." You can be sure that none of the special events on the "formal' evenings will take place in designated casual areas.

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Originally Posted by You

I am still confused on what to wear for dinner. Was thinking of sun dresses(or would that be too cool), capris and dressy tops, dressy sandals. Can my husband wear dockers, button down shirts and/or nice golf shirts.

On the "casual" (or "smart casual" in Princess's lingo) evenings, your husband should wear a shirt with a collar (sport shirt, polo shirt, etc.), dress slacks, socks, and dress shoes. You have several options. A sun dress or cocktail dress would be quite acceptable, or you can wear a nice top with either a skirt or slacks. In either case, dressy shoes or sandals (not sneakers, flip-flops, etc.) are in order.

Norm,
Am I understanding you when you said that the formal dress code is the dress code for the entire ship during formal nights. I have only cruised carnival and I know on formal nights we would go to dinner and then change and go to a show or casino for the evening. Is this not acceptable for on Princess.

Norm,
Am I understanding you when you said that the formal dress code is the dress code for the entire ship during formal nights. I have only cruised carnival and I know on formal nights we would go to dinner and then change and go to a show or casino for the evening. Is this not acceptable for on Princess.

Many people change after dinner and no one is restricted from going to any of the shows or any other place you want to go. If you do not want to dress at all simply eat in the Horizon court (Buffet).
Jim..

I agree with Norm about not missing "Formal night". It is very nice and a nice dress, pant suit, skirt and dressy blouse would be acceptable. DH could wear a suit for a couple of hours and enjoy the evening dinner.

I also agree with jim130. There is no restrictions anywhere on the ship on formal nights if you are dressed casually. I am not too sure what Norm is talking about when he says:
Princess also holds very classy special events on these evenings that I won't describe because I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Nothing special was done on my last couple of Princess cruises. Then again, maybe I just forgot about it.

Norm,
Am I understanding you when you said that the formal dress code is the dress code for the entire ship during formal nights. I have only cruised carnival and I know on formal nights we would go to dinner and then change and go to a show or casino for the evening. Is this not acceptable for on Princess.

That is Princess's stated policy.

As others have noted, enforcement of that policy often is completely lacking and some "socially challenged" individuals invariably do disregard it. The fact that Princess's "Personal Choice Cruising" campaign about five or six years ago seemed to draw a lot more such individuals to Princess, creating a real need for enforcement of the dress policy, was one of the major frustrations with Princess that led me to switch to another line (Celebrity). Nonetheless, I'm not aware of any official change to that policy.

Norm is absolutely right in saying that thr dress code is for the entire nite and unfortunately many do not comply and will change after dinner however my observation is that they never even started formal.The second formal nite does have a very unique event with the champagne pyramid in the atrium and most people attend in their formal attire which is the dress code for the entire evening.I do believe this is a function that calls for more than shorts and tee shirts.Have a problem with someone in shorts climbing to the top and pouring champagne in shorts while most are dressed accordingly along with the entire cruise staff.If this does not work for you find something else to do and I will gladly drink your complimentary champagne. Right on norm.

Norm,
I re-read what you wrote about Princess holding very classy special events and I thought you meant in the dining room but the only thing that came to mind was the waitstaff singing. Yes we enjoy all the evening affairs/events after our dinner.

Just a note on Princess' dress policy, I am looking at a recent Princess Patter (3/16/07) and it states...Tonight's dress: Formal. There is a note on the bottom of page 1 that states DRESS CODE - Shorts and T-shirs are NOT permitted in the Dining Rooms. No short sleeves allowed on Formal Night. BUT no where on the 4 pages does it state one must stay in formal clothing all night. One might argue that "Tonight" means all night, then again many think it applies just for dinner.

tennisbum, the champagne waterfall doesn't start until 11:30pm. Are you saying if someone chooses to have dinner at the buffet in shorts or casual wear, he shouldn't be entitled to enjoy this event too? Because of the late hour, many ppl have retired to their cabins and just come back to see this spectacular event.

tennisbum, the champagne waterfall doesn't start until 11:30pm. Are you saying if someone chooses to have dinner at the buffet in shorts or casual wear, he shouldn't be entitled to enjoy this event too? Because of the late hour, many ppl have retired to their cabins and just come back to see this spectacular event.

All passengers most certainly are entitled to attend the shows, the special events, etc., on "formal" evenings, regardless of where they choose to dine.

Of course, the norms of social etiquette require that one wear proper attire to each venue. Thus, those who dine in "casual" attire, either on the Horizon Court or in their cabins, should change into the proper evening attire before going to the shows, to special events such as the Captains' "Welcome Aboard" Cocktail Party and the "Champagne Waterfall" party, or to any other events or activities that are not in the ship's designated "casual" areas. Failure to do so shows an extreme lack of class.

While I agree with you about proper dress attire for the WA Cocktail Party & the Captain's Party, I do not think shows an "extreme lack of class" to attend the shows or the Champagne Waterfall in casual clothes. You can view the waterfall from many floors around the atruim so what anyone is wearing is no concern to me and does not make or break my cruising experience. This is just my opinion just as you stated your opinion and no matter what that's all it is....an opinion. Again, this is why you now cruise Celebrity. Enjoy.

It makes no difference which cruise line you choose as there is a dress code and Norm is absolutely correct in observation that calls for the correct dress code for all functions on formal nites.You would be very interseted in the results of a poll conducted last year on whether most cruisers wanted to keep the formal nite or go to casual which you appear to enjoy.The reason for celebrity is that their class of cruisers enjoy this function and I might add Holland cruisers are even more into the formal nights.

Just because I think someone who prefers the Horizon Court on Formal night and then enjoys to the show in casual clothing is okay doesn't mean I do the same. I was just trying to encourage the OP to go to formal dinner and not miss a special night.

For the record, we have dressed accordingly for every formal night on every cruise and will continue to do so. I just don't know why people get upset just because someone changes to casual clothing to enjoy a show in the dark. Whatever.

OK-so does that mean if we don't do the formal night we won't be eating lobster tail and such. Also, if we don't wear dressier clothes, then we will go to the buffet. Just trying to clarify. thanks for the info from all of you

While I agree with you about proper dress attire for the WA Cocktail Party & the Captain's Party, I do not think shows an "extreme lack of class" to attend the shows or the Champagne Waterfall in casual clothes. You can view the waterfall from many floors around the atruim so what anyone is wearing is no concern to me and does not make or break my cruising experience. This is just my opinion just as you stated your opinion and no matter what that's all it is....an opinion. Again, this is why you now cruise Celebrity. Enjoy.

Just to be clear, what I stated is NOT an opinion. Rather, it's what you would find in any manual of social etiquette.

OK-so does that mean if we don't do the formal night we won't be eating lobster tail and such. Also, if we don't wear dressier clothes, then we will go to the buffet. Just trying to clarify. thanks for the info from all of you

Actually, you have two options if you don't wish to dress for dinner.

>> 1. You can order the entire main dining room menu through room service and have it served in your cabin, where you can eat it dressed however you please. Nonetheless, there's a pretty stiff surcharge for this service.

>> 2. You can dine at the buffet restaurant (known as the "Horizon Court" on most Princess ships). The buffet restaurant is always a designated "casual" area. Nonetheless, the dinner menu at the buffet restaurant is not necessarily the same as the main dining room and the service is buffet style.

But, again, your options for entertainment will be quite limited because you won't be dressed properly to go to the theater, the show lounge, the cabaret (on ships that have one), the casino, or any of the special events that take place on these evenings. You are not going on a cruise spend the evenings in your cabin watching "pay-per-view" movies or reruns of old television programs on your stateroom television, are you?

OK-so does that mean if we don't do the formal night we won't be eating lobster tail and such. Also, if we don't wear dressier clothes, then we will go to the buffet. Just trying to clarify. thanks for the info from all of you

Actually, you have two options if you don't wish to dress for dinner.

>> 1. You can order the entire main dining room menu through room service and have it served in your cabin, where you can eat it dressed however you please. Nonetheless, there's a pretty stiff surcharge for this service.

>> 2. You can dine at the buffet restaurant (known as the "Horizon Court" on most Princess ships). The buffet restaurant is always a designated "casual" area. Nonetheless, the dinner menu at the buffet restaurant is not necessarily the same as the main dining room and the service is buffet style.

But, again, your options for entertainment will be quite limited because you won't be dressed properly to go to the theater, the show lounge, the cabaret (on ships that have one), the casino, or any of the special events that take place on these evenings. You are not going on a cruise spend the evenings in your cabin watching "pay-per-view" movies or reruns of old television programs on your stateroom television, are you?

Norm.

Norm has stated a couple of times that he no longer cruises with Princess, ergo he does not know what he is talking about as far as Princess goes.
1 - There is NO charge for room service. A tip is appreciated but that is not obligatory.
2 - There is no such thing as "pay for view" movies.
3 - You can go to the shows, casino and any other place dressed as you please. So your entertainment options are wide open.
I don't know why Norm keeps posting on Princess as he obviously does not know anything about them any more. Perhaps you should stay on the Celebrity posts where you may know what you are talking about.
Furthermore I think we have really beaten this subject of what to wear to death. Of course that is only my opinion.
Jim..

1 - There is NO charge for room service. A tip is appreciated but that is not obligatory.

Splitting hairs here, Princess now offers two options. One is to have the whole meal dropped off at once, for which there's no charge. Of course, your entree may well be cold by the time you finish your appetizers, soup, and salad. And while there may be no law saying that you must tip the room service attendant who delivers your meal, social etiquette absolutely requires it because it's well-established custom on which the room service attendants depend for a significant percentage of their income from tips. Only a complete ignoramus would fail to tip the attendant. (And, you don't have to take my word for this. Rather, go to your local library and read what a manual on social etiquette says about tipping for room service.)

That said, Princess now offers a full in-cabin dining option, with the courses delivered served as you are ready for them, for which there is a (fairly steep) surcharge. Of course, the principal advantage of this option is that you will get to eat your main course while it's hot.

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Originally Posted by You

2 - There is no such thing as "pay for view" movies.

Okay, so the movie channel on the stateroom television is free. You just saved $10.95, but you have to watch the movies on the broadcast schedule rather than on your schedule. And in any case, that does not change the reality that one is in one's cabin watching the television screen.

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Originally Posted by You

3 - You can go to the shows, casino and any other place dressed as you please. So your entertainment options are wide open.

Again, Princess's stated policy is that the evening dress code applies thorughout the ship, except designated "casual" areas, after 6:00 PM. The norms of social etiquette are quite clear that ladies and gentlemen always wear the attire prescribed (or "suggested" or "requested" or whatever) by the host(ess) on a social occasion. A need to enforce the prescribed dress should never arise because, again, only an ignorant buffoon would fail to comply.

So your last point basically basically say that Princess Cruises will not stop passengers from proving to the staff and the other passengers that they are ignorant buffoons. Rather, the line will just let such passengers humiliate themselves.

OTOH, IMNSHO, "go ahead and prove to those around you that you are an ignorant buffoon" probably is not the advise that you, or I, or anybody else ought to be giving on these boards.

Thank you very much and I would love to have dinner with you sometime.
The funny part of this whole thing is that I always comform to the dress code. What I was trying to point out is that some people do not really like to dress up and I think that is their right without some pompous ass looking down on them or belittling them. After all we go on cruises for a vacation and spend good money to do so and we should be allowed to do what we want to do. Another thing that bothers me is that Norm by his own admission does not cruise with Princess any more so why does he try to pass himself off as an expert on almost every topic on the Princess thread?
Jim

Jim,
I was trying to do the same for the OP. We, too, always dress "to code" but I would hate for anyone to miss out on Formal night just because someone doesn't think they are dressed to their standards or what is suggested on a cruiselines website. Go and enjoy!!

Thank you very much and I would love to have dinner with you sometime.
The funny part of this whole thing is that I always comform to the dress code. What I was trying to point out is that some people do not really like to dress up and I think that is their right without some pompous ass looking down on them or belittling them. After all we go on cruises for a vacation and spend good money to do so and we should be allowed to do what we want to do. Another thing that bothers me is that Norm by his own admission does not cruise with Princess any more so why does he try to pass himself off as an expert on almost every topic on the Princess thread?

It is absolutely your right to book on a cruise line that has whatever standards of dress you choose. There are several lines, including Azamara Cruises, Disney Cruises, and Oceania Cruises, that offer "all casual" cruises (no "formal," "semiformal," or "informal" evenings at all) for those who don't want to dress up, and I can guarantee that those line will grow quickly more lines will move in that direction if there's sufficient demand.

It is absolutely NOT your right, or anybody else's right, to "crash" an event in attire other than that prescribed by the cruise line. Rather, it's the cruise line's right (and also its duty, at least from a legal perspective) to enforce its advertised standards of dress.

Yes, I said legal duty! Basically, a cruise line which advertises that a cruise includes two "formal" evenings has a legal obligation to deliver two "formal" evenings, with the ambiance that one expects on a "formal" evening. There's no doubt that the dress of the participants is a major factor in setting the ambiance for a social event, so people who "crash" an event wearing inappropriate attire detract from the advertised ambiance for which others have paid. Thus, failure to enforce prescribed dress standards makes the advertisement of "formal' evenings false. Those who expect true "formal" evenings based upon the company's advertisement thereof, therefore, can hold the company liable for false advertising in civil court. The likely penalty would be at least a refund of the whole cost of the cruise vacation, and triple damages are a clear possibility.

Norm,Right on and maybe we should run a survey on this board on whether to keep formal nites and comply with the written dress code.You may recall Idid this approx a year ago on Holland board and the results were way in favor of maintaining with the women even more in favor Thanks for your good input